FIELD
[0001] The embodiments discussed herein are related to an antenna device and a mobile phone.
BACKGROUND
[0002] An inverted-L antenna or the like is becoming often used for an electronic device
such as a mobile phone in order to obtain high directional gain. On the other hand,
electronic devices have become thinner in recent years, so that a request to lower
the height of an antenna has been increased. There is the same request when the inverted-L
antenna is used, and the height of the inverted-L antenna is desired to be lowered.
[0003] Conventionally, to cope with the request for thinning electronic devices, an antenna
device is proposed in which a multi-band meander-line inverted-F antenna and a slot
of a substrate metal on which the antenna is set are combined. Also, a thin and broadband
antenna device is provided in which a slot is provided in a substrate metal, a passive
element is extended from a side of an opening of the slot, and a feeding point is
provided at the opening.
[0004] Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No.
2005-531177 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.
2004-128660 are examples of related art.
[0005] The disclosed technique is made in view of the above problems and an object of the
technique is to provide an antenna device and a mobile phone which may secure a good
matching condition within a small-footprint.
[0006] There are following problems for the inverted-L antenna and meander-line inverted-F
antenna described in the related art. If the height of the inverted-L antenna is too
low, there is a risk that the inverted-L antenna is far away from a matching condition
of the characteristic impedance. In this case, in order to match the characteristic
impedance, it is considered to use a matching element such as a coil or a capacitor.
However, when a matching element is used, the circuit scale increases and it is difficult
to thin and downsize electronic devices.
[0007] Because of this, when the related art in which the meander-line inverted-F antenna
and the slot are combined is used, it is difficult to further reduce the footprint
of the antenna. Also, in the related art in which the passive element is extended
from the side of an opening of the slot and the feeding point is provided at the opening,
it is difficult to further reduce the footprint of the antenna.
[0008] US2007/040751A1 discloses a wireless terminal including a housing containing a substrate having a
ground plane, RF components mounted on the substrate, a PIFA (Planar Inverted-F Antenna)
carried by the substrate and coupled electrically to the RF components for transmitting
and receiving signals and a notch antenna in the substrate for receiving signals in
a frequency band at least partially overlapping the transmission bandwidth of some
of the signals transmitted by the PIFA. The notch antenna is de-activated when the
PIFA is being used for transmitting a signal lying within the said transmission bandwidth.
SUMMARY
[0009] According to an embodiment of an aspect of the invention, an apparatus is disclosed
as described in claim 1.
[0010] The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means
of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.
[0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following
detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the
invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an antenna device according to a first embodiment;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an antenna device for comparing a resonant
frequency and matching with those in the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining resonant frequencies of an antenna device 10 and
the antenna device according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a Smith chart of the antenna device 10 and the antenna device according
to the first embodiment;
FIG. 5A is a schematic perspective view of a mobile phone including the antenna device
according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 5B is a transparent perspective view of the mobile phone including the antenna
device according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the antenna device according
to the first embodiment;
FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating another modified example of the antenna device according
to the first embodiment;
FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an entire substrate metal provided with an antenna
device according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the antenna device of FIG. 7A;
FIG. 8 is a Smith chart of the antenna device according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a resonant frequency of the antenna device according
to the second embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a diagram of an example of an antenna device in which an inverted-L antenna
is used;
FIG. 11 is a diagram of an example of an antenna device in which a folded inverted-L
antenna is used;
FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating resonant frequencies of the antenna devices illustrated
in FIGs. 10 and 11;
FIG. 12B is a Smith chart of the antenna devices illustrated in FIGs. 10 and 11;
FIG. 13 is a diagram of another example of an antenna device in which an inverted-L
antenna is used;
FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating resonant frequencies of the antenna devices illustrated
in FIGs. 13 and 11;
FIG. 14B is a Smith chart of the antenna devices illustrated in FIGs. 13 and 11;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an antenna device according to a modified example
of the second embodiment;
FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating a resonant frequency of the antenna device of FIG.
15;
FIG. 16B is a Smith chart of the antenna device of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17A is a perspective view of an antenna device according to a third embodiment;
FIG. 17B is a transparent perspective view of the antenna device according to the
third embodiment;
FIG. 18 is a diagram of an antenna device in which no slot is provided;
FIG. 19A is a diagram illustrating resonant frequencies of an antenna device 400 and
an antenna device 410;
FIG. 19B is a Smith chart of the antenna device 400 and the antenna device 410;
FIG. 20A is a perspective view of an antenna device according to a modified example
of the third embodiment;
FIG. 20B is a transparent perspective view of the antenna device according to the
modified example of the third embodiment;
FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating a resonant frequency of an antenna device 450;
FIG. 21B is a Smith chart of the antenna device 450;
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an antenna device according to a fourth embodiment;
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating resonant frequencies when a length L2 of a slot
and a length L1 of an antenna are changed;
FIG. 24 is a Smith chart corresponding to FIG. 23;
FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a length of antenna, a depth
of slot, and an input impedance;
FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an antenna device according to a fifth embodiment;
FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating resonant frequencies when a slot length L3 is changed;
and
FIG. 28 is a Smith chart corresponding to FIG. 27.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of an antenna device and a mobile phone disclosed in the
present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The
embodiments described below do not limit the antenna device and the mobile phone disclosed
in the present application.
First Embodiment
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an antenna device according to a first
embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the antenna device according to the present
embodiment includes an inverted-L antenna 1, a substrate metal 2, a slot 3 which is
a slit provided in the substrate metal 2, and a feeding point 4. In the present embodiment,
the substrate metal 2 has a platelike shape and a rectangular shaped surface.
[0015] The slot 3 has an opening 31, which is the starting position of the slit, near an
end portion of the substrate metal 2. Further, the slot 3 has a meander shape. The
opening 31 corresponds to an example of a "cut opening".
[0016] The substrate metal 2 has areas on both sides of the slot 3. The substrate metal
2 has a peninsula section 21 which is a smaller area of the two areas separated by
the slot 3. The peninsula section 21 corresponds to an example of a "conductor section".
Further, the peninsula section 21 is provided with slits 22a and 22b from an extending
edge portion. Thereby, the peninsula section 21 has a belt-shape and a meander shape.
[0017] The feeding point 4 is provided near the tip of the peninsula section 21.
[0018] The inverted-L antenna 1 is connected to the feeding point 4 and further connected
near the tip of the peninsula section 21 of the substrate metal 2 through the feeding
point 4. In the present embodiment, the height of the inverted-L antenna 1 from the
substrate metal 2 is 3 mm. However, the size and shape of the inverted-L antenna 1
are free. The inverted-L antenna may be an inverted-F antenna.
[0019] A distance P represents the length of the long side of an area occupied by the slot
3 and the peninsula section 21 in the substrate metal 2 (hereinafter referred to as
a "placing area"). In the present embodiment, the distance P is 17 mm. A distance
Q represents the length of the short side of the placing area. In the present embodiment,
the distance Q is 6 mm. On the other hand, when the slot 3 and the peninsula section
21 are linear, to obtain the same resonant frequency as that in the present embodiment,
the length of the long side of the placing area has to be 26.4 mm. In other words,
the slot 3 and the peninsula section 21 have a meander shape, so that it is possible
to shorten the long side of the placing area. Therefore, it does not have to secure
a long area as the placing area, so that the entire antenna device may be compact.
[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an antenna device for comparing the resonant
frequency and matching with those in the first embodiment. An antenna device 10 of
FIG. 2 has a configuration which includes a slot 3 having the same shape as that of
the first embodiment and in which no slit is provided in a peninsula section 21. A
fine-tuning to have the same resonant frequency as that of the first embodiment is
not performed on the antenna device 10, so that other values of the antenna device
10 are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the resonant frequencies of the antenna device
10 and the antenna device of the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, the vertical axis indicates
reflection coefficient (return loss) and the horizontal axis indicates frequency.
A graph 101 represents the reflection coefficient of the antenna device of the first
embodiment for each frequency. A graph 102 represents the reflection coefficient of
the antenna device 10 for each frequency. The resonant frequency of the antenna device
of the first embodiment is the peak of the graph 101, which is 2.14 GHz. The resonant
frequency of the antenna device 10 is the peak of the graph 102, which is 2.348 GHz.
For example, in a mobile phone communication, for example, 2.11 to 2.17 GHz is used
as in a downlink communication (WCDMA or LTE Band I). When the antenna device 10 is
used in a mobile phone, the size of the mobile phone has to be increased in order
to lower the resonant frequency. Therefore, when the antenna device of the first embodiment
is used in a mobile phone, the size of the mobile phone is more compact than that
of the mobile phone in which the antenna 10 is used.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a Smith chart illustrates the characteristics of the antenna device 10
and the antenna device according to the first embodiment. A graph 103 in FIG. 4 represents
the input impedance for each frequency of the antenna device of the first embodiment.
A graph 104 represents the input impedance for each frequency of the antenna device
10.
[0023] A point 105 on the graph 103 represents the input impedance at a frequency of 2.140
GHz. The real part and the imaginary part of the input impedance at the point 105
are 48.9 Ω and -0.83 Ω respectively. A point 106 on the graph 104 represents the input
impedance at a frequency of 2.348 GHz. The real part and the imaginary part of the
input impedance at the point 106 are 63.2 Ω and -5.6 Ω respectively. Here, the most
matching condition is the center of the Smith chart, at which the real part is 50
Ω and the imaginary part is 0 Ω. It is found that the point 105 is nearer to the center
than the point 106. In other words, the antenna device of the first embodiment is
more matching than the antenna device 10. A Smith chart has constant resistance circles
and the constant resistance circles share the right end portion. In the description
below, the more outside in a Smith chart, the smaller the resistance (the real part
of the impedance), and the more inside in the Smith chart, the larger the resistance.
When the length of the inverted-L antenna is increased while the height is maintained
at a constant height, a point in the Smith chart may be moved outside, and when the
length of the slot is increased, the point in the Smith chart may be moved inside.
Here, the substantial length of the peninsula section 21 of the antenna device of
the first embodiment may be longer than that of the antenna device 10. Both the inverted-L
antenna 1 and the peninsula section 21 work together as an antenna, so that the antenna
device of the first embodiment, in which the peninsula section 21 is long, located
more outside than the antenna 10 in the Smith chart. The position of the antenna device
10 in the Smith chart is located more inside than the center, so that when the antenna
device 10 is replaced by the antenna device of the first embodiment, the position
in the Smith chart moves to outside and a matching condition is obtained. Here, to
cause the antenna device 10 to have the same resonant frequency as that of the antenna
device of the first embodiment, the size of the antenna device 10 has to be increased,
so that the antenna device of the first embodiment is more compact than the antenna
device 10.
[0024] As described above, when the peninsula section 21 has a meander shape, the resonant
frequency may be lower than when only the slot 3 has a meander shape if both cases
have the same placing area. Or, when the peninsula section 21 has a meander shape,
the size may be more compact than when only the slot 3 has a meander shape if both
cases have the same resonant frequency.
[0025] FIG. 5A is a schematic perspective view of a mobile phone including the antenna device
according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5B is a transparent perspective view of the
mobile phone including the antenna device according to the first embodiment.
[0026] For example, the antenna device according to the first embodiment is included in
a smartphone 100 as illustrated in FIG. 5A. The antenna device according to the first
embodiment is included a housing of the smartphone 100 as illustrated by the antenna
device 110 in FIG. 5B. The smartphone 100 has a wireless communication unit and a
signal processing unit not illustrated in the drawings. The wireless communication
unit receives a wireless signal through the antenna device 110. Also, the wireless
communication unit transmits a signal received from the signal processing unit through
the antenna device 110. The signal processing unit processes a signal received from
the wireless communication unit and provides the processed signal to an operator.
The signal processing unit processes data inputted from the operator and outputs the
processed data to the wireless communication unit.
[0027] Although, here, an example is described in which the antenna device according to
the first embodiment is included in a smartphone, the antenna device may be included
a mobile phone other than a smartphone or may be included in a wireless communication
device other than a mobile phone.
Modified Example
[0028] FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the antenna device according
to the first embodiment. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating another modified example
of the antenna device according to the first embodiment.
[0029] To shorten the long side of the placing area, the slot may be crooked or bent. To
increase the length of the peninsula section, the peninsula section may have a crooked
or bent belt shape. Therefore, the slot and the peninsula section may have not only
the meander shapes as illustrated in the first embodiment, but also other crooked
or bent shapes.
[0030] For example, as illustrated by the substrate metal 11 in FIG. 6A, the slot and the
peninsula section may have a helical shape. Also in this case, the long side of the
placing area may be shorter than when the slot has a linear shape if both cases have
the same resonant frequency. Or, in this case, the resonant frequency may be lower
than when the slot has a linear shape if both cases have the same placing area and
have a matching condition.
[0031] As another example, as illustrated by a substrate metal 12 in FIG. 6B, only the peninsula
section may have a meander shape. When the peninsula section is long like the substrate
metal 12, the substantial length of the antenna may be long, so that the resonant
frequency in a matching condition may be lower than when the slot and the peninsula
section have a linear shape.
[0032] As described above, the antenna device and the mobile phone according to the present
embodiment and the modified example have a structure in which the substrate metal
includes a crooked or bent slot whose opening is located at the end of the substrate
metal and a crooked or bent peninsula section including the inverted-L antenna at
the tip of the peninsula section. Thereby, the placing area of the substrate metal
may be compact and space saving of the antenna device may be achieved. Further, it
is possible to contribute to downsizing of a device, which uses an antenna device,
such as a mobile phone. Further, even when the states of the slots are the same, the
resonant frequency may be further lowered in a matching condition.
Second Embodiment
[0033] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an entire substrate metal provided with an antenna
device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the antenna
device of FIG. 7A.
[0034] As illustrated in FIGs. 7A and 7B, the antenna device according to the present embodiment
is a folded inverted-L antenna modified from the antenna device according to the first
embodiment. Thereby, the position in the Smith chart is more inside, so that it is
possible to adjust to a matching condition by shorter slot length. In the inverted-L
antenna, the slot occupies a large part of the placing area, so that it is possible
to reduce the placing area by replacing the inverted-L antenna by the folded inverted-L
antenna.
[0035] In the antenna device according to the present embodiment, a slot 203 having an opening
near an end portion of a substrate metal 202 is provided in the substrate metal 202
in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Further, a crooked or bent-belt-shaped
peninsula section 221 obtained by adding slits in a smaller area of two areas on both
sides of the slot 203 in the substrate metal 202 is formed. Both of the slot 203 and
the peninsula section 221 have a meander shape.
[0036] An antenna 201 is a folded inverted-L antenna which extends from one end 211, loops
back, and returns to the other end 212. One end of the antenna 201 is placed near
the tip of the peninsula section 221 through a feeding point 204. The other end of
the antenna 201 is directly placed near the tip of the peninsula section 221.
[0037] The placing area formed by the slot 203 and the peninsula section 221 according to
the present embodiment has a long side P1 of 14.3 mm and a short side Q1 of 4 mm.
The height of the antenna 201 from the substrate metal 202 is 3 mm. A length P2 and
a width Q2 of the antenna 201 are 14.5 mm and 4 mm respectively.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a Smith chart of the antenna device according to the second embodiment.
A graph 205 represents the input impedance of the antenna device according to the
present embodiment. A point 206 on the graph 205 represents the input impedance at
a frequency of 2.14 GHz and the real part and the imaginary part of the input impedance
are 53.888735 Ω and 1.046130 Ω respectively. In other words, the antenna device according
to the present embodiment is located approximately at the center of the Smith chart
at 2.14 GHz. In other words, the antenna device according to the present embodiment
is in a good matching condition.
[0039] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the resonant frequency of the antenna device according
to the second embodiment. In FIG. 9, the vertical axis indicates reflection coefficient
and the horizontal axis indicates frequency. A graph 207 indicates the reflection
coefficient of the antenna device according to the second embodiment for each frequency.
The peak 208 on the graph 207 is the resonant frequency of the antenna device according
to the second embodiment. The resonant frequency of the antenna device according to
the second embodiment is 2.14 GHz. In other words, the resonant frequency of the antenna
device according to the second embodiment is included in a range of 2.11 to 2.17 GHz,
which is an example of the resonant frequency range of a mobile phone. Therefore,
when the antenna device according to the second embodiment is used in a mobile phone,
a high sensitivity is realized.
[0040] Here, a comparison between an antenna device in which the inverted-L antenna is used
and an antenna device in which the folded inverted-L antenna is used will be described
with reference to FIGs. 10 to 14B.
[0041] FIG. 10 is a diagram of an example of the antenna device in which the inverted-L
antenna is used. FIG. 11 is a diagram of an example of the antenna device in which
the folded inverted-L antenna is used. FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating resonant
frequencies of the antenna devices illustrated in FIGs. 10 and 11. FIG. 12B is a Smith
chart of the antenna devices illustrated in FIGs. 10 and 11. FIG. 13 is a diagram
of another example of an antenna device in which an inverted-L antenna is used. FIG.
14A is a diagram illustrating resonant frequencies of the antenna devices illustrated
in FIGs. 13 and 11. FIG. 14B is a Smith chart of the antenna devices illustrated in
FIGs. 13 and 11.
[0042] A slot 252 in an antenna device 251 illustrated in FIG. 10 has a width of 0.5 mm
and a length of 20 mm. A substrate metal 253 has a width of 50 mm (the length direction
of the slot 252) and a length of 100 mm (the width direction of the slot 252). A peninsula
section 254 has a width of 3.5 mm and a length of 20 mm. An inverted-L antenna 255
has a length of 16.2 mm. A slot 262, a substrate metal 263, and a peninsula section
264 of an antenna device 261 illustrated in FIG. 11 have the same sizes as those of
the slot 252, the substrate metal 253, and the peninsula section 254, respectively,
in FIG. 10. In a folded inverted-L antenna 265, the length of a line segment 265A
is 20 mm, the length of a line segment 265B is 4 mm, and the length of a line segment
265C is 8 mm. In short, the antenna device 251 is the same as the antenna device 261
except for the shapes of the antennas.
[0043] In FIG. 12B, a graph 273 represents the input impedance for each frequency of the
antenna device 251 and a graph 274 represents the input impedance for each frequency
of the antenna device 261. A point 276 on the graph 273 represents the input impedance
at a frequency of 2.83 GHz and the real part and the imaginary part of the input impedance
are 51.89 Ω and -2.06 Ω respectively. A point 275 on the graph 274 represents the
input impedance at a frequency of 2.14 GHz and the real part and the imaginary part
of the input impedance are 49.30 Ω and -2.22 Ω respectively. In this case, as illustrated
in FIG. 12B, the impedances of the antenna device 251 and the antenna device 261 are
located approximately at the center of the Smith chart. In short, in this case, both
the antenna device 251 and the antenna device 261 are in a good matching condition.
[0044] A graph 271 in FIG. 12A represents the reflection coefficient of the antenna device
251 for each frequency. A graph 272 represents the reflection coefficient of the antenna
device 261 for each frequency. As illustrated in FIG. 12A, the peak of the graph 271,
which is the resonant frequency of the antenna device 251, is 2.83 GHz. On the other
hand, the peak of the graph 272, which is the resonant frequency of the antenna device
261, is 2.14 GHz.
[0045] On the other hand, in an antenna device 281 illustrated in FIG. 13, the sizes of
a slot 282, a substrate metal 283, and a peninsula section 284 are the same as those
of the antenna device 251 in FIG. 10, and the length of an inverted-L antenna 285
is 28.9 mm.
[0046] A graph 291 in FIG. 14A represents the reflection coefficient of the antenna device
281 for each frequency. A graph 292 represents the reflection coefficient of the antenna
device 261 for each frequency. As illustrated in FIG. 14A, the peak of the graph 291,
which is the resonant frequency of the antenna device 281 and the peak of the graph
292, which is the resonant frequency of the antenna device 261 represent the same
resonant frequency of 2.14 GHz.
[0047] In FIG. 14B, a graph 293 represents the input impedance for each frequency of the
antenna device 281 and a graph 294 represents the input impedance for each frequency
of the antenna device 261. In this case, as illustrated by a point 295 on the graph
293, the real part and the imaginary part of the input impedance of the antenna device
281 at 2.14 GHz are 10.66 Ω and 14.00 Ω respectively. On the other hand, as illustrated
by a point 296 on the graph 294, the real part and the imaginary part of the input
impedance of the antenna device 261 at 2.14 GHz are 49.30 Ω and -2.22 Ω respectively.
In other words, the antenna device 261 has a matching condition better than that of
the antenna device 281.
[0048] Therefore, if the slot lengths are the same, the antenna device 261 in which the
folded inverted-L antenna 265 is used may lower the resonant frequency while a good
matching condition is maintained in comparison with the antenna device 281 in which
the inverted-L antenna 285 is used.
[0049] When the long side and the short side of the placing area width are 4 mm respectively
and the height of the antenna is 3 mm, if the resonant frequency is set to 2.14 GHz,
the slot length of the inverted-L antenna will be 26.4 mm. On the other hand, if the
folded inverted-L antenna satisfies the same condition as described above, the slot
length will be 20.0 mm.
[0050] In this way, when the folded inverted-L antenna is used, the slot may be shorter
than when the inverted-L antenna is used.
[0051] As described above, the placing area of the antenna device in which the folded inverted-L
antenna is used as in the second embodiment may be more compact than that in the first
embodiment, so that space saving may be realized. Further, it is possible to contribute
to downsizing and thinning of a housing of a device which uses an antenna device.
Modified Example
[0052] The sizes and shapes of the peninsula section and the folded inverted-L antenna may
be different from those described in the above second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a perspective
view of an antenna device according to a modified example of the second embodiment.
[0053] The placing area including a peninsula section 321 and a slot 303 of the antenna
device illustrated in FIG. 15 has a long side P3 of 11 mm and a short side Q3 of 4
mm. A length P4 and a width Q4 of an antenna 301 are 15.9 mm and 3.5 mm respectively
and the height of the antenna 301 from the substrate metal 302 is 3 mm. Further, in
the antenna device illustrated in FIG. 15, the peninsula section 321 has a meander
shape and a slot 303 has a shape in which several slits are formed transversely from
the linear slot. Further, the antenna device illustrated in FIG. 15 has a feeding
point 304.
[0054] FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating the resonant frequency of the antenna device of
FIG. 15. FIG. 16B is a Smith chart of the antenna device of FIG. 15.
[0055] A graph 351 in FIG. 16A represents the reflection coefficient for each frequency
of the antenna device in FIG. 15. The peak of the graph 351, which is the resonant
frequency of the antenna device in FIG. 15, is 2.14 GHz. This is within a range of
2.11 to 2.17 GHz, which is an example range of a downlink frequency band of a mobile
phone. Therefore, when the antenna device in FIG. 15 is used in a mobile phone, a
high sensitivity is realized.
[0056] A graph 352 in the Smith chart in FIG. 16B represents the input impedance for each
frequency of the antenna device in FIG. 15. A point 353 on the graph 352 is the input
impedance of the antenna device in FIG. 15 at 2.14 GHz, and the real part and the
imaginary part of the input impedance are 48.323383 Ω and 0.413102 Ω respectively.
This is located approximately at the center of the Smith chart. Therefore, the antenna
device in FIG. 15 is in a good matching condition.
[0057] As described above, when the folded inverted-L antenna is used, even if both the
peninsula section and the slot do not have a meander shape, an antenna device which
is high sensitive and is in a good matching condition may be formed. Also in this
case, the folded inverted-L antenna is used, so that the placing area may be more
compact than when the inverted-L antenna is used and it is easy to downsize and thin
the housing. When the slot lengths are the same, it is possible to further lower the
resonant frequency and improve the sensitivity while the matching condition is maintained.
When the inverted-L antenna is used, if the position is outside in the Smith chart,
the position may be moved closer to the matching condition.
Third Embodiment
[0058] FIG. 17A is a perspective view of an antenna device according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 17B is a transparent perspective view of the antenna device according to the
third embodiment.
[0059] As illustrated in FIGs. 17A and 17B, the antenna device according to the present
embodiment has a structure in which a pattern of an antenna is provided on both sides
of a substrate 402. Here, the antenna device illustrated in FIG. 17B is referred to
as an antenna device 400. The antenna device 400 of the present embodiment uses a
folded inverted-L antenna.
[0060] Here, in the present embodiment, the substrate 402 has a structure in which a plastic
dielectric material having a plate shape is sandwiched by metal plates. The metal
plates provided on both sides of the substrate 402 correspond to the substrate metal
described in the above embodiments. The thickness of the substrate 402 is 1 mm. The
relative dielectric constant of a plastic portion of the substrate 402 is 4.2. The
position of the substrate metal is not limited to the surface of the plastic, but
may be inside the plastic. The substrate 402 may be a multilayer substrate.
[0061] A pattern of a slot 403 and a peninsula section 421 is formed by cutting a metal
surface on one side of the substrate 402. A feeding point 404 is provided at the tip
of the peninsula section 421. Further, one end of a folded inverted-L antenna 401
is connected to the feeding point 404. The metal is cut so that the folded inverted-L
antenna 401 extends along a side surface of the substrate 402, bends when reaching
the other metal surface, further extends and bends on the other metal surface, returns
so that the other end comes into contact with the peninsula section, so that the folded
inverted-L antenna 401 is formed as an folded-L antenna. The side surface portion
of the folded inverted-L antenna might not be a side surface, but may be a via or
the like.
[0062] In the present embodiment, the placing area formed by the peninsula section 421 and
the slot 403 has a long side of 15.5 mm and a short side of 4 mm. The antenna 401
has a length of 8 mm and a width of 3.35 mm.
[0063] FIG. 18 is a diagram of an antenna device in which no slot is provided. As illustrated
in FIG. 18, an antenna device 410 has a shape in which a pattern of a folded inverted-L
antenna is provided on one surface of a substrate metal and no slot is provided on
the other surface. In the present embodiment, to match the resonant frequency, the
antenna has a length of 17.5 mm and a width of 3.5 mm.
[0064] FIG. 19A is a diagram illustrating the resonant frequencies of the antenna device
400 and the antenna device 410. FIG. 19B is a Smith chart of the antenna device 400
and the antenna device 410.
[0065] A graph 441 in FIG. 19A represents the reflection coefficient for each frequency
of the antenna device 410. A graph 442 represents the reflection coefficient for each
frequency of the antenna device 400. The peak of the graph 441, which is the resonant
frequency of the antenna device 410, is 2.14 GHz. The peak of the graph 442, which
is the resonant frequency of the antenna device 400, is 2.14 GHz. In short, the antenna
device 400 and the antenna device 410 have the same resonant frequency.
[0066] A graph 443 in the Smith chart in FIG. 19B represents the input impedance for each
frequency of the antenna device 410. A graph 444 represents the impedance for each
frequency of the antenna device 400. A point 445 on the graph 443 is the input impedance
of the antenna device 410 at 2.14 GHz, and the real part and the imaginary part of
the input impedance are 1.545 Ω and 2.70 Ω respectively. On the other hand, a point
446 on the graph 444 is the input impedance of the antenna device 400 at 2.14 GHz,
and the real part and the imaginary part of the input impedance are 52.55 Ω and 1.88
Ω respectively. In other words, the impedance of the antenna device 400 is located
approximately at the center of the Smith chart. However, the impedance of the antenna
device 410 is far away from the center of the Smith chart. Therefore, the antenna
device 400 has a matching condition better than that of the antenna device 410.
[0067] As described above, also in the antenna device in which a pattern of an antenna,
a slot, and a peninsula section is formed on both sides of the substrate metal, an
antenna device including a crooked- or bent-belt-shaped slot and a crooked- or bent-belt-shaped
peninsula section may have a lower resonant frequency and a better matching condition
in comparison with an antenna device including no slot and no peninsula section.
[0068] In short, an antenna device in which a pattern of an antenna, a slot, and a peninsula
section is formed on both sides of the substrate metal as in the third embodiment
may have a low resonant frequency and a good matching condition. Further, the placing
area may be more compact than that in the first embodiment, so that it is easy to
downsize and thin the housing. A pattern is formed on both sides of the substrate
metal, so that it is possible to reduce the number of components when the antenna
device is used in a mobile phone. Even when the substrate is a multilayer substrate
or the metal is covered by a dielectric material, the substrate may be used. Further,
it is possible to contribute to thinning and downsizing of a mobile phone.
[0069] Here, in the third embodiment described above, a case is described in which the peninsula
section has a meander shape and the slot has a shape in which several slits are formed
transversely from the linear slot. However, the shapes of the peninsula section and
the slot are not limited to those shapes. For example, both the peninsula section
and the slot illustrated in the third embodiment may have a meander shape or the peninsula
section and the slot may have a helical shape.
[0070] In the third embodiment described above, a case is described in which a folded inverted-L
antenna is used as an antenna. However, the antenna may be an inverted-L antenna.
Therefore, a modified example of the third embodiment will be described below.
Modified Example
[0071] FIG. 20A is a perspective view of an antenna device according to a modified example
of the third embodiment. FIG. 20B is a transparent perspective view of the antenna
device according to the third embodiment.
[0072] As illustrated in FIGs. 20A and 20B, the antenna device according to the present
embodiment also has a structure in which a pattern of an antenna is provided on both
sides of a substrate 452. Here, the antenna device illustrated in FIG. 20B is referred
to as an antenna device 450.
[0073] Here, in the present modified example, the substrate 452 has a size of 50 mm by 50
mm by 1 mm. The substrate 452 has a structure in which a plastic dielectric material
having a plate shape is sandwiched by metal plates. The relative dielectric constant
of a plastic portion of the substrate 452 is 4.2.
[0074] A pattern of a slot 453 and a peninsula section 455 is formed by cutting a metal
surface on one side of the substrate 452. A feeding point 454 is provided at the tip
of the peninsula section 455. Further, one end of an inverted-L antenna 451 is connected
to the feeding point 454. A metal surface on the other side is cut so that the inverted-L
antenna 451 extends along a side surface of the substrate 452, bends when reaching
the metal surface on the other side, and extends on the metal surface on the other
side, so that the inverted-L antenna 451 is formed as an inverted-L antenna.
[0075] FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating the resonant frequency of the antenna device 450.
FIG. 21B is a Smith chart of the antenna device 450.
[0076] A graph 461 in FIG. 21A represents the reflection coefficient for each frequency
of the antenna device 450. The peak of the graph 461, which is the resonant frequency
of the antenna device 450, is 2.088 GHz. This is a sufficient value for the resonant
frequency used in a mobile phone. Therefore, when the antenna device in FIG. 20 is
used in a mobile phone, the antenna device will be high sensitive.
[0077] A graph 462 in the Smith chart in FIG. 21B represents the input impedance for each
frequency of the antenna device 450. A point 463 on the graph 462 is the impedance
at 2.088 GHz, and the real part and the imaginary part of the impedance are 50.277166
Ω and -1.725353 Ω respectively. This is located approximately at the center of the
Smith chart. Therefore, the antenna device 450 is in a good matching condition.
[0078] Therefore, an antenna device in which a pattern of an antenna, a slot, and a peninsula
section is formed on both sides of the substrate metal as in the present modified
example may have a low resonant frequency and a good matching condition. The placing
area may be more compact than that in the first embodiment, so that it is easy to
downsize and thin the housing. A pattern is formed on both sides of the substrate
metal, so that it is possible to reduce the number of components when the antenna
device is used in a mobile phone. Even when the substrate is a multilayer substrate
or the metal is covered by a dielectric material, the substrate may be used. Further,
it is possible to contribute to thinning and downsizing of a mobile phone.
Fourth Embodiment
[0079] Next, an antenna device according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference
to FIG. 22. FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the antenna device according to the fourth
embodiment.
[0080] In an antenna device 500, a linear slot 503 is provided in the substrate metal 502.
In the present embodiment, the substrate metal 502 has a length of 100 mm and a width
of 50 mm. A distance S5 from the edge of the substrate metal 502 to the slot 503 is
3 mm. The slot 503 has a width S6 of 0.5 mm. The length of the slot 503 is defined
as L2.
[0081] A feeding point 504 is provided within a distance of λ/10 (λ is a wavelength of the
resonant frequency) from the tip of the peninsula section which is the smaller area
of the two areas separated by the slot 503 of the substrate metal 502. For example,
when the resonant frequency is 2.14 GHz, λ is 140 mm. In the present embodiment, the
feeding point 504 is provided at a position, which is located at the tip of the peninsula
section, and the distances S3 and S4 from which to the edge of the substrate metal
502 and the slot 503 are 1.5 mm and 1.5 mm, respectively.
[0082] An inverted-L antenna 501 is connected to the substrate metal 502 through the feeding
point 504. In the present embodiment, the height S1 of the inverted-L antenna 501
from the substrate metal 502 is 3 mm. The width S2 of the inverted-L antenna 501 is
0.5 mm. Further, the length of the inverted-L antenna 501 is defined as L1.
[0083] Here, FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating the resonant frequencies when the lengths
of the slot and the antenna are changed. A graph 511a represents the reflection coefficient
for each frequency in the case of (L2, L1) = (0, 30.80). A graph 512a represents the
reflection coefficient for each frequency in the case of (L2, L1) = (5, 30.33). A
graph 513a represents the reflection coefficient for each frequency in the case of
(L2, L1) = (10, 29.52). A graph 514a represents the reflection coefficient for each
frequency in the case of (L2, L1) = (15, 28.33). A graph 515a represents the reflection
coefficient for each frequency in the case of (L2, L1) = (20, 26.42). A graph 516a
represents the reflection coefficient for each frequency in the case of (L2, L1) =
(25, 22.41). A graph 517a represents the reflection coefficient for each frequency
in the case of (L2, L1) = (28, 16.80). A graph 518a represents the reflection coefficient
for each frequency in the case of (L2, L1) = (30, 10.12).
[0084] As illustrated in FIG. 23, all the peaks of the graphs 511a to 518a are 2.14 GHz.
In other words, the resonant frequencies in all the cases of (L2, L1) = (0, 30.80),
(5, 30.33), (10, 29.52), (15, 28.33), (20, 26.42), (25, 22.41), (28, 16.80), and (30,
10.12) are the same.
[0085] FIG. 24 is a Smith chart corresponding to a case in which the lengths of the slot
and the antenna in FIG. 23 are changed. A graph 511b represents the input impedance
for each frequency in the case of (L2, L1) = (0, 30.80). A graph 512b represents the
input impedance for each frequency in the case of (L2, L1) = (5, 30.33). A graph 513b
represents the input impedance for each frequency in the case of (L2, L1) = (10, 29.52).
A graph 514b represents the input impedance for each frequency in the case of (L2,
L1) = (15, 28.33). A graph 515b represents the input impedance for each frequency
in the case of
[0086] (L2, L1) = (20, 26.42). A graph 516b represents the input impedance for each frequency
in the case of (L2, L1) = (25, 22.41). A graph 517b represents the input impedance
for each frequency in the case of (L2, L1) = (28, 16.80). A graph 518b represents
the input impedance for each frequency in the case of (L2, L1) = (30, 10.12).
[0087] The real part and the imaginary part of the input impedance at 2.14 GHz on the graph
511b are 6.696259 Ω and -0.369123 Ω respectively. The real part and the imaginary
part of the input impedance at 2.14 GHz on the graph 512b are 6.854880 Ω and 0.020841
Ω respectively. The real part and the imaginary part of the input impedance at 2.14
GHz on the graph 513b are 6.6998016 Ω and 0.150937 Ω respectively. The real part and
the imaginary part of the input impedance at 2.14 GHz on the graph 514b are 8.132561
Ω and - 0.170008 Ω respectively. The real part and the imaginary part of the input
impedance at 2.14 GHz on the graph 515b are 11.071769 Ω and -0.309638 Ω respectively.
The real part and the imaginary part of the input impedance at 2.14 GHz on the graph
516b are 20.644352 Ω and -0.103293 Ω respectively. The real part and the imaginary
part of the input impedance at 2.14 GHz on the graph 517b are 50.069075 Ω and -0.717366
Ω respectively. The real part and the imaginary part of the input impedance at 2.14
GHz on the graph 518b are 153.526092 Ω and -0.383727 Ω respectively.
[0088] FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among the length of antenna, the
depth of slot, and the input impedance. In FIG. 25, the vertical axis on the left
side of the page indicates the length. The vertical axis on the right side of the
page indicates the real part of the input impedance. The horizontal axis indicates
the depth of the slot. A graph 521 represents the length of the antenna. A graph 522
represents the length obtained by adding the length of the antenna to the depth of
the slot. A graph 523 represents the real part of the input impedance.
[0089] As illustrated in FIG. 25, the real part of the input impedance rapidly increases
from a point where the length of the slot is λ/10 (nearly equal to 14mm). In other
words, when the length of the slot is set to larger than or equal to λ/10, the real
part of the input impedance may be increased.
[0090] When the original radiation resistance (the real part of the input impedance) is
low, the depth of the slot has to be longer to obtain a matching condition. Specifically,
the depth of the slot to be used varies depending on the radiation resistance of the
antenna device, so that it may be possible to obtain a matching condition even when
the length of the slot is λ/10.
[0091] In an antenna device, such as the antenna device 500 illustrated in FIG. 22, in which
a substrate metal includes a linear slot having an opening near the end of the substrate
metal and an inverted-L antenna is provided near the tip of a peninsula section, it
is preferable that the length of the slot is set to an appropriate value greater than
or equal to λ/10.
[0092] As described above, in an antenna device in which a substrate metal includes a linear
slot having an opening near the end of the substrate metal and an inverted-L antenna
is provided near the tip of a peninsula section, when the length of the slot is set
to an appropriate value greater than or equal to λ/10, a good matching condition may
be secured.
Fifth Embodiment
[0093] Next, an antenna device according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference
to FIG. 26. FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the antenna device according to the fifth
embodiment.
[0094] An antenna device 600 includes a slot 603 having an opening near the end of a substrate
metal 602. The slot 603 has a linear shape. The length of the short side Q5 of the
placing area is 4.0 mm. The length of the long side of the placing area, that is,
the length of the slot, is defined as L3.
[0095] An antenna 601 is a folded inverted-L antenna. One end of the antenna 601 is connected
to the substrate metal 602 through a feeding point 604. The length P6 is 17.5 mm.
The width Q6 is 3.5 mm. The height of the antenna 601 from the substrate metal 602
is 1.0 mm.
[0096] FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating the resonant frequencies when L3 is changed. A
graph 611a represents the reflection coefficient for each frequency in the case of
L = 0. A graph 612a represents the reflection coefficient for each frequency in the
case of L = 5. A graph 613a represents the reflection coefficient for each frequency
in the case of L = 10. A graph 614a represents the reflection coefficient for each
frequency in the case of L = 15. A graph 615a represents the reflection coefficient
for each frequency in the case of L = 20. A graph 616a represents the reflection coefficient
for each frequency in the case of L = 25. A graph 617a represents the reflection coefficient
for each frequency in the case of L = 30. A graph 618a represents the reflection coefficient
for each frequency in the case of L = 35. A graph 619a represents the reflection coefficient
for each frequency in the case of L = 40.
[0097] FIG. 28 is a Smith chart corresponding to a case in which L3 is changed in FIG. 27.
Specifically, a graph 611b represents the input impedance for each frequency in the
case of L3 = 0. A graph 612b represents the input impedance for each frequency in
the case of L3 = 5. A graph 613b represents the input impedance for each frequency
in the case of L3 = 10. A graph 614b represents the input impedance for each frequency
in the case of L3 = 15. A graph 615b represents the input impedance for each frequency
in the case of L3 = 20. A graph 616b represents the input impedance for each frequency
in the case of L3 = 25. A graph 617b represents the input impedance for each frequency
in the case of L3 = 30. A graph 618b represents the input impedance for each frequency
in the case of L3 = 35. A graph 619b represents the input impedance for each frequency
in the case of L3 = 40. Points on the graphs represent the input impedances at the
resonant frequency corresponding to each slot length obtained in FIG. 27.
[0098] As illustrated in FIG. 28, when the slot length is 10 mm or more, the matching condition
is good. More specifically, when the slot length is 15 to 20 mm, the matching condition
is more appropriate.
[0099] In this case, when standardizing the slot length and the input impedance by using
that λ is nearly equal to 103.45 mm at 2.9 GHz, the real part of the input impedance
begins to increase when the slot length exceeds about λ/10. Further, when the slot
length is about (3/20)λ to (1/5)λ, the matching condition is more appropriate.
[0100] Therefore, in an antenna device in which a substrate metal includes a linear slot
having an opening near the end of the substrate metal and a folded inverted-L antenna
is provided near the tip of a peninsula section, when the length of the slot is set
to an appropriate value greater than or equal to λ/10, a good matching condition may
be secured.
[0101] All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical
purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed
by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation
to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of
such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority
of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described
in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations
could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.